Dimitrio barely contained a shudder as he's addressed by the elven priestess. Calistria or Calistra, whatever her name is. She must follow the goddess of lust this one.
The bard was just about to tell the priestess that he was also hurting, just enough to feel her touch but decided against it. Lief wouldn't appreciate that.
He bows low as he's introduced by Lief and keep his eyes and ears open to the priestess' response.
"This is Allarnon and his Bear, Tarkir, Ederin, Dimitrio, and Kaylayne. I'm Lief. We are here to discuss Allevrah. She moves against the elven nation, even now. We know her as Allevrah Azrinae, you must know her as the general who fled, so says Armistril. Sometime between your window and ours, she must have gone from elf to drow. How, I have no feasible theory. That doesn't matter. What matters to us is that the Winter Council sought to silence us, and our perspective of the drow window we've witnessed. And by 'silence', I mean 'kill'. First and foremost, I would know if you ordered our death, or know who did. Second, and more importantly, will you help us to gather the rest of the Winter Council, so we may find peace together, and unify our cause against Allevrah?"
" 'That doesn't matter...' " she rolls Lief's language around in her mouth, tasting it with her sweet tongue. "Oh, but it does." she says certainly, but she moves on.
"So this is a personal vendetta against the council? Revenge? How wonderful!" she becomes much more enamored with the conversation at that.
"I like revenge. You should slay us all for what we've done these past months, or moreover what we haven't done." She stands, and moves to the altar, lighting an incense stick before returning to her seat.
"So, will you share your plan with me? What sort of revenge do you have in mind? Or do you plan to keep it close to the chest, " she moves her hand across her breasts, "and surprise us?"
"I shall not stand in the way of your revenge, it is yours by right if the Council has in fact wronged you in this way. But I am most curious."
Kaylayne feels her heart flutter/worry when she is identified as the raiser of the dead. She doesn't know if it's because she did something wrong, right, or wrong in a cultural notion. Either way, she knew she had just been marked.
* * *
Kaylayne largely recoils from the elven priestess...getting willies and bad vibes from the elf woman. Kaylayne grits her teeth.
"Are you saying that you personally had nothing to do with the attempts on our lives or that you deny it for the Council? Also...are you aware that you are working with drow?"
Ederin whistles out loud as Perelir makes her entrance, almost without thinking. He'd recognized the beauty of elves of course, but this was the first one that had actually caught his eye. Doubt Ol' deadeye has any priests that look like that. He thinks, momentarily considering a change of faith.
As Lief introduces them all, he finds himself more than a little confused as the priestess simultaneously seems to disavow any knowledge of the attack on them, but welcomes their retaliation. He nods along with Kay as she asks for clarification.
"Revenge against the wrong party ain't revenge, it's jus' murder. So, which is it? Should we be takin' revenge on you, or do you know who was involved?"
Lief begins to formulate further thoughts, and finds himself thoroughly thrown off by the elf's candor. Hearing Kaylayne and Ederin pick up the questioning, he regains his thought patterns, debating where best to answer and inquire...
"Are you saying that you personally had nothing to do with the attempts on our lives or that you deny it for the Council? Also...are you aware that you are working with drow?"
”Oh, I do not speak for the Council, only for myself. I had not heard your names before today, but I’m not surprised. We have indeed made many enemies. I feel certain though that we employ no drow. I feel sure, of that, I would be aware.” she says with some confidence.
"Revenge against the wrong party ain't revenge, it's jus' murder. So, which is it? Should we be takin' revenge on you, or do you know who was involved?"
She leans in, and puts her hand on Ederin’s arm. Such a warm touch. So light. ”Oh, it was not me. Can you tell me who attacked you? How were they dressed, did they have any symbols, did they say who they were? Did any survive, or did you slaughter them to the last?” She seems intrigued and not at all angry. All’s truly fair in love and war.
|
Allarnon's eyes grow fearful as he looks at the elven woman.
She doesn't speak like an elf at all. She speaks like a drow.
”Oh, it was not me. Can you tell me who attacked you? How were they dressed, did they have any symbols, did they say who they were? Did any survive, or did you slaughter them to the last?”
Allarnon is a bit more brash as he leans on his spear, his musk of the wildlife lingers in the chamber.
"It was an entire pack of elves, they descended on us like wolves in the trees and said they were sent from the Winter Council to take our lives. Very few survived as the Kyonin Elves quickly arrived and took care of them."
"So this is a personal vendetta against the council? Revenge? How wonderful!"
Why must they drive our words towards pettiness and base motives? Presuppositionalists. All elves are presuppostionalists.
"Attempted murder, Perelir. None of us died in the attack. There are no deaths to avenge, but there are conspirators, those who sought to murder, and your Council is to blame. If you suggest that the only way to convince them to cease their hostility towards us to flat out kill them, then it may come to that. I want only to confront. Now, please forego further questions of your own, and answer ours." Lief shrugs his shoulders, hoping for the elf's cooperation.
"All the way in Thorn's End here, your Council somehow learned of our visit to Iadara, with the news we bore from Zirnakaynin. You all must have a pulse on the goings-on there, for you to act so quickly. If you had no clue, that's fine. Which of the other three would have the passion necessary to assign our murders? You know, Armistril thinks that the Winter Council is worth saving. Do you? You're so removed, within your secretive Tanglebriar bungalow, that I ask what you do for your elven nation, when you must be too preoccupied with the demon assaults on your door."
Lief paces a moment, then restrains himself. "Speak on Allevrah. Please. She is our true concern, once we've resolved the Council's aggressions."
Kaylayne tries not to bristle too much.
"You seem awfully unconcerned that one of your Council is a drow...or that the drow are guiding the Council, using it. You don't seem to mind that at all. Is it that you already know or don't care?" Kaylayne asks, prodding, looking at the crafting. "You seem to have some magical skill. Maybe you could bend some of it to realize our truth or uncover the deceit in your midst?"
"It was an entire pack of elves, they descended on us like wolves in the trees and said they were sent from the Winter Council to take our lives. Very few survived as the Kyonin Elves quickly arrived and took care of them."
She nods, and is ready to respond, when Lief asks a more pointed question.
"All the way in Thorn's End here, your Council somehow learned of our visit to Iadara, with the news we bore from Zirnakaynin. You all must have a pulse on the goings-on there, for you to act so quickly. If you had no clue, that's fine. Which of the other three would have the passion necessary to assign our murders? You know, Armistril thinks that the Winter Council is worth saving. Do you? You're so removed, within your secretive Tanglebriar bungalow, that I ask what you do for your elven nation, when you must be too preoccupied with the demon assaults on your door."
Lief paces a moment, then restrains himself. "Speak on Allevrah. Please. She is our true concern, once we've resolved the Council's aggressions."
She grows thoughtful, and hesitates before replying, which seems quite not in her nature. Eventually, she proclaims, ”Well, I cannot speak to Allevrah, not outside the Council chamber at least. There were oaths, oaths I will not break for you my dear - at least not without some effort!” she laughs lightly, trying to bring some levity to the otherwise serious conversation.
”My belief is that the Council has a purpose to serve, and could be a strong column supporting Kyonin. I fear we have fallen from a truly righteous path however. Power can corrupt as surely as anything in the universe.”
”If anyone knows about the attack on you, that is to say if it was decided at this level, it would be Hialin you should speak to. But I’d be cautious. He’s far more reactionary than I.” she smiles sweetly.
”As for the demons at our door, there are always demons of some kind at the doors of power. Ours are just a little more obvious than some - and frankly a distraction from our true enemies. I’ve often suggested we abandon our post here to be closer to the seat of government, but there are advantages too. And there are many old-timers who would not see us give up the Tanglebriar to the demons who infest it. We’re symbolic of the elven foothold here.”
"You seem awfully unconcerned that one of your Council is a drow...or that the drow are guiding the Council, using it. You don't seem to mind that at all. Is it that you already know or don't care?" Kaylayne asks, prodding, looking at the crafting. "You seem to have some magical skill. Maybe you could bend some of it to realize our truth or uncover the deceit in your midst?"
This is a shrine to Calistria, and she is a priestess - based on the symbology you see.
”Oh, there are but four councilors, and none of us are drow - I assure you.” she seems to be holding something back. ”And as I said, none of us are working with those despicable creatures, however much you may believe so.” She seems dismissive of your claims, but she does take them seriously. ”There have been many divinations, by more than just myself. The drow encroachment is real, however much some might ignore it out of a misplaced sense of duty to the elven history. But no, neither the council nor the Queen herself is working with the drow. I am sure of that at least.” she says with a certainty that she clearly believes.
"So, what do you know of Quilindra? She was imprisoned in Iadara, claiming that she was put there by having spoken out against the Winter Council. She guided us to you." Lief eyes the priestess of lust, as he asks a question regarding a succubus.
"Quillindra" she repeats. "No, I've not heard that name. But I'm sure many have spoken out against us - or would if they knew we existed."
"If you gather the other Councilors, I'll join them, and perhaps then we can sort this out. Your catalyst may be what we need to resolve our differences and move forward. Revenge indeed - an upheaval!" she says with a flourish.
Dimitrio adds his own question, "So you are saying that, if anyone, Hialin would know about our attack. Would you care to say his motive for having us killed?"
He then added, "As for divination magic, we had infiltrated drow society for a few weeks with help from an elven wizard and none were the smarter. And the drow homeland just bristles with magic of all sorts. Are you sure someone in the council could not be doing something similar? Or perhaps someone has been replaced recently? How often do you subject members to this 'divination magic'?"
"Oh, well, naturally, I could be deceived. But isn't that true of everyone? We could debate the very nature of reality if you like, but to the best of my knowledge, and I assure you it is vast, no drow currently exist on the Council or among our senior agents." she smiles emphatically at the handsome Dimitrio.
Lief thanks Perelir for agreeing to meet with the three other Councilors. "I understand Hialin is the touchiest of the remaining three, but what of the other two? Do you have any words of advice as to bringing them to the table? Would you care to join us as we assemble the others? We don't know our way around your building as you do."
"Oh, I'm not one to gossip..." she confirms what you were told downstairs, in general terms, about the various Councilors but she does not elaborate more than the superficial.
"Ina can guide you, and as fractious as the Council is right now, I'm not sure I'd be of much assistance. I suggest you gather us each individually, for there are few alliances these days..." she seems saddened by this and appears to long for by-gone days.
|
|
Allarnon looks to Perelir. "You seem a bit moody. Is there something bothering you we might help you with? Besides speaking with and gathering the Council that is?" He grunts as he finally bluntly asks the pretty elven woman. "Sometimes Kaylayne gets moody but it only lasts a day or two."
Ederin barks out a laugh as Al asks his question but quickly recovers and starts to remove himself from the chamber.
Speaking to the others as he moves to leave he tries to get some input, so as to ask Ina where to direct them next.
"That's two elves now that told us Hialin might be difficult to get to agree to anything, but he also might know about them who tried to take us out. I figure he might still be our last stop yeah? More likely to play nice if the rest are too? This ain't my sort o' thing though, so whose next?"
Allarnon looks to Perelir. "You seem a bit moody. Is there something bothering you we might help you with? Besides speaking with and gathering the Council that is?" He grunts as he finally bluntly asks the pretty elven woman. "Sometimes Kaylayne gets moody but it only lasts a day or two."
"What? Oh, I suppose I have been. We were once so much more..." she says somewhat wistfully. "Now go, let's see if you can bring us back to our glory, or destroy us all." she smiles wickedly.
The party, with Ina, moves off into the stairwell and onto another empty chamber where you can talk unmolested.
"That's two elves now that told us Hialin might be difficult to get to agree to anything, but he also might know about them who tried to take us out. I figure he might still be our last stop yeah? More likely to play nice if the rest are too? This ain't my sort o' thing though, so whose next?"
"I think we visit Malindil next. We can bond over the Shin'Rakorath."
Lief doesn't stop, other than to request that Ina bring them all to Malindil.
"I think we visit Malindil next. We can bond over the Shin'Rakorath."
Kaylayne nods, agreeing with the destination. She frowns over the encounter with Perelir has gone.
"That did not go as poorly as it could have gone. Better than I expected, to be honest. Let us hope to find more and better in our next discussion."
"I fear our next encounters will not be so effortless." Lief tries to listen ahead for any signs of trouble, such as explosion or explosive monologuing.
"I think we visit Malindil next. We can bond over the Shin'Rakorath."
Dimitrio smiled and was about to say 'That's what I said' but held his tongue. He was confused since he wasn't sure if thinking like Lief was a good thing or not.
he added, "Yes, last we heard the Shin'Rakorath was all abut defending the elves from enemies so they will surely understand the threat that the drow pose. Heck, they were investigating this back in Riddleport, remember?"
"Dimitrio, just remember that the Winter Council marked us as enemies, so if the Shin'Rakorath has deep loyalties, we may be engaging them with more than words, shortly..."
"What is Shin'Rakorath? Something I have not hear of on this side." He looks to Dimitrio as they head towards Malindil.
"Jus' more elves, Al. And the whole reason you met us in the first place." Ed shrugs not finding the finer details worth an explanation.
"Met this elf named Kwava who was workin' for the Shin'Rakorath, when were dealin' wit' some domestic issues, yeah? He helped us out, paid us nice, and set us on the path to figurin' out some drow was workin' on somethin' nasty underneath our employers establishment. We killed the drow, cleared the problem, an' he sent us to Cryin' Leaf to give the report. You know jus' about everythin' after that."
Kaerishiel Neirenar was also a Shin’Rakorath agent and somewhat higher up in the order, for reference. It wasn’t entirely clear at the time, but it is information you’d know from Eviana. His forces were apart from hers, commanded by him alone. His group was there in support of the attack, and must have been sent by the Winter Council. This was in Crying Leaf about the same time you met Allarnon.
Ina heads downstairs and strides into yet another armory, with what looks like some even greater finery on display. She knocks on an inner door where there is no answer. As you prepare to leave however, Malindil walks up from below and joins you, frowning.
”Oh, you’re here. Armistril said you’d be coming to visit. Please, come in.” she escorts you into her chambers. This room is decorated like a hunting lodge, with exotic animal skins in place of tapestries, simple but beautiful wooden furniture, and a pile of luxuriant furs in place of a bed. Tucked into the southeast corner is a large, iron-bound chest, and on the southwestern wall is a pair of crossed shortspears. An armor rack and its accompanying weapon rack stand empty, while a warm brazier and general cleanliness make for a cozy apartment.
”He said you’re here to confront the Council, is that right?” she does not seem nearly as agreeable as Perelir and is as bristly as her armor.
"Yes. Malindil, I presume? My associates- Allarnon, Tarkir, Dimitrio, Ederin, Kaylayne. I'm Lief." Lief points to each in turn.
"You know of Allevrah, as we do. Perelir did nothing to elucidate on Allevrah's history, choosing to be coy about it. We have reason to believe that Allevrah is effecting evil in the Land of Black Blood, which will come full circle on the Elves of Kyonin. Sadly, we reported it to Queen Eviana, and were marked for death by your Winter Council. None of us perished, by the way, in case you want to accuse us unfairly of seeking revenge, but we certainly need your word that we will not be interfered with in our attempts to bring truth to light. Do we understand correctly that you coordinate the Shin'Rakorath? We worked with an agent named Kwava, in Riddleport, where we began our journey of understanding what the drow mean to you, and, now, to us. Please, help us, by joining the other members of the Council, so we can discuss resolution."
Lief's tone sounds as if the young man is having none of this errandboy s#!+e.
Kaylayne tries not to bristle too much.
"Confront? No, what a wrong way to look at it. If he understood what we know, then you'd be confronting yourselves. It boggles me how little wisdom there is here...and how easily treachery has spread." Kaylayne explains. "There are drow influencing and working within the Council and against the Elven nation...and he thinks *we* are here to confront you? No. We are here to expose the malice in your midst before it destroys this nation. He should be asking: 'How can I help you?'"
Diplomacy
"Do we understand correctly that you coordinate the Shin'Rakorath? We worked with an agent named Kwava, in Riddleport, where we began our journey of understanding what the drow mean to you, and, now, to us. Please, help us, by joining the other members of the Council, so we can discuss resolution."
Malindil’s face remains impassive as Lief introduces the group and gets to the point. When he mentions Kwava, she opens a drawer and takes out a large bound book. She undoes a lock with a key around her neck and opens it. A few moments scanning and she looks up.
”I do not know Kwava. He’s a minor agent attached to Kaerishiel, whom I believe you’ve met.” She looks at the party and says little more.
"Confront? No, what a wrong way to look at it. If he understood what we know, then you'd be confronting yourselves. It boggles me how little wisdom there is here...and how easily treachery has spread." Kaylayne explains. "There are drow influencing and working within the Council and against the Elven nation...and he thinks *we* are here to confront you? No. We are here to expose the malice in your midst before it destroys this nation. He should be asking: 'How can I help you?'"
She says little, but looks uneasily at Kaylayne. Eventually, in the nervous silence that follows, she asks, somewhat uneasily, ”Why do you wish us to convene?” She seems quite hostile to the idea, and even draws back a little from the party, gripping her still held short spear tightly enough that you see the whites of her knuckles.
She says little, but looks uneasily at Kaylayne. Eventually, in the nervous silence that follows, she asks, somewhat uneasily, ”Why do you wish us to convene?” She seems quite hostile to the idea, and even draws back a little from the party, gripping her still held short spear tightly enough that you see the whites of her knuckles.
Dimitrio added his voice to the mix, "Well, let's see. We want to know who's trying to kill us and why. We firmly believe that a mistake has been made. And we also want you to take the drow menace very seriously. Whatever the drow do to the elves, however ancient their blood feud is, will ripple to the other races."
He continued, "If what we learned is true, there is an extinction-level event being planned out right now. You all know about that, don't you?"
|
|
Allarnon sighs as he hates politics. "We all need to convene as soon as possible. While you have demons knocking at your door, as you have for centuries, you now have drow slowly manipulating you within your home. If something isn't done, and soon your traditional home here will be lost for good. We are here to help you maintain the integrity of Thorn's End. Or at least what we are capable of doing."
"Now let's all quit acting like squirrels dropped from the nest at birth and do this!" He growls as his brown and red hair bristles with irritation.
Kaylayne jumps a little as Allarnon raises his voice, the unexpected source rattling her frayed nerves.
Kaylayne notes the woman's angry, white knuckles and tries to figure out what is making her angry.
Sense Motive
Ederin sees the woman grip her weapon and lays his bow down on the ground, his sword follows shortly after.
"We ain't here to fight lass. If we were, I figure Armistril would have us speared to a wall already, or maybe mauled wit' some wolf head maces or somethin'."
"We want to talk, even got Perry on board already. If you don't start a fight, we won't either. Had enough o' that for my lifetime."
Dimitrio added his voice to the mix, "Well, let's see. We want to know who's trying to kill us and why. We firmly believe that a mistake has been made. And we also want you to take the drow menace very seriously. Whatever the drow do to the elves, however ancient their blood feud is, will ripple to the other races."
He continued, "If what we learned is true, there is an extinction-level event being planned out right now. You all know about that, don't you?"
There’s a flicker of recognition in what you say, but she covers quickly. ”Oh, I take the drow threat very seriously.” she says truthfully. ”Though I’m not sure convening the Council will have the desired effect.” she mumbles.
Allarnon sighs as he hates politics. "We all need to convene as soon as possible. While you have demons knocking at your door, as you have for centuries, you now have drow slowly manipulating you within your home. If something isn't done, and soon your traditional home here will be lost for good. We are here to help you maintain the integrity of Thorn's End. Or at least what we are capable of doing."
"Now let's all quit acting like squirrels dropped from the nest at birth and do this!" He growls as his brown and red hair bristles with irritation.
Her bristles seems to rise with Allarnon’s, but she doesn’t dispute him. ”Perhaps the integrity of Thorn’s End is unimportant.” she says, and looks somewhat aghast at the words coming out of her mouth.
Ederin sees the woman grip her weapon and lays his bow down on the ground, his sword follows shortly after.
"We ain't here to fight lass. If we were, I figure Armistril would have us speared to a wall already, or maybe mauled wit' some wolf head maces or somethin'."
"We want to talk, even got Perry on board already. If you don't start a fight, we won't either. Had enough o' that for my lifetime."
She consciously loosens her grip on her weapon and straightens up out of the crouch she was settling into. Seemingly as much to get rid of you as anything else, she quickly proclaims, ”Fine. I’ll be there.” and she shifts the spear to her other hand. She seems to be waiting for you to leave now that you’ve gotten what you came here for.
You do not believe she is under any magical influences.
- - -
"I do not know Kwava. He’s a minor agent attached to Kaerishiel, whom I believe you’ve met."
So, you do know him.
Lief nods as the elf consents to the convening. Perelir, Malindil...
"Thank you." Lief turns to the others. 'Ina, please take us to see Arlindil next. It sounds like Hialin will be the most difficult. Let's leave him for last."
”Oh, I take the drow threat very seriously.” she says truthfully. ”Though I’m not sure convening the Council will have the desired effect.”
Kaylayne begins to ask "Well, what do you suggest *will* work?" but lets go as Lief doesn't press the point. She almost turns around to ask the question, but thinks better of it.
"Yes, let us see what Arlindil has to say," Kaylayne agrees on the way out. "Let us hope that at least one of them finds the good sense to realize the threat and to help us."
She begins to make a slew of mental notes, hoping that at least of them will help in the upcoming discussions.
"I don't think any of them will help us. The most we can expect here is rationalization for why they do nothing in the face of doom, and cryptic confessions of their previous relationship with Allevrah. Oh, and an understanding that we are not to be targeted again for our heresy."
"Well, sometimes, when you're trying to cause a reaction between substrates, you may require a catalyst, which ignites a burn or causes a bonding. We're apparently the catalyst, a new chemical thrown into their midst. Let's pray for stability in such a reaction."
"I wouldn't expect too much stability with that one mate." Ederin says, pointing a thumb back the way they came. "That one's jumpin' at shadows, ain't sleepin' either from the bags under her eyes. More sane than not, don't know what's spookin' her but I think we got about as much reason out o' her as we're goin' to."
You head back up to the sixth floor, and encounter some rubble, mostly pushed out of the way of a closed and sealed door. Across from it, you hear Arlindil call out, ”In here.” He is clearly expecting you, and his door is ajar as Ina approaches it. She pushes it open, makes introductions, and leaves as before.
Arlindil’s room seems to be mostly just a bedchamber, and the furniture has a somewhat haphazard feel to it. The “bed” is little more than a mound of furs, and there are no chairs or tables or other concessions toward civilization present - just a rickety stand for a suit of armor and a few flat rocks that might make impromptu seats.
He too has deep bags under his eyes and a sorrowful look about him. Morose even. He stands, stepping out of his bed-nest as you enter. He does not immediately speak.
Dimitrio bows and relates the reason for their visit.
"Sir, as you probably know we come bearing very tragic news regarding an imminent attack by drow upon the surface elves. We are hoping to have a meeting with the Winter Council to seek their wisdom and offer our service to stem this red tide that is coming."
He concluded, "Would you be agreeable to such a meeting?"
Dimitrio bows and relates the reason for their visit.
"Sir, as you probably know we come bearing very tragic news regarding an imminent attack by drow upon the surface elves. We are hoping to have a meeting with the Winter Council to seek their wisdom and offer our service to stem this red tide that is coming."
He concluded, "Would you be agreeable to such a meeting?"
Arlindil nods slowly apparently in understanding. But he says, slowly and clearly, ”No.”
Kaylayne examines the man, trying think of a suitable response.
"Why not?" Kaylayne eventually utters, pacing the man in terseness.
Kaylayne examines the man, trying think of a suitable response.
"Why not?" Kaylayne eventually utters, pacing the man in terseness.
He is again slow to respond. You wonder if perhaps he's not very bright, but that seems unlikely considering the position he's in. He must just be a deliberator.
"The Council is not your plaything. The wheel of time will bring it around again." he says simply, expecting that to be enough of an answer. He continues to stand, and all but gestures for the door.
"The Council is not your plaything. The wheel of time will bring it around again."
Lief takes note of this one. He's a deeper lake than they've been swimming in. Perelir was shallow river, Malindil was fragile mist, compared to Arlindil. He understands the man to be the slightest bit open to conversation, otherwise he would have bid them not enter at all. It's the least he can understand, sadly.
"Arlindil, from what I can tell, the Wheel of Time has already begun to bring it around, now that Perelir and Malindil have agreed to convene. Of course, that leaves you and Hialin. We are undeterred in our hunt for Allevrah Azrinae, a drow female who ventures to the Land of Black Blood. I believe you know her as general Allevrah. I am sorry for whatever came to pass that leaves you despondent. Your Council saw fit to target us for death because of our mission." Our mission? What about the damn elves doing this now...? "That means that we must seek a promise from your Council to leave us in peace. Even better, to lend its power to protecting the Elven nation."
Lief looks to his companions, then back at Arlindil. "The two women agreed, possibly too easily. Something tells me you will require more to convince you. We are not your playthings, but we will hear reason."